Robert Brooke (died 1669)

Sir Robert Brooke (1637 – 5 June 1669) was an English landowner, magistrate, commissioner, military officer, knight and MP who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1669.[1] Dying at the age of 32, his promise was cut short, and the core of his estates in East Suffolk passed by marriage into the Blois family.

Life

Brooke was the second surviving son of Sir Robert Brooke (died 1646) of Cockfield Hall and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Colepeper (died 1613) of Great Wigsell, East Sussex. He was educated privately under Daniel Milles. In 1659 he became JP for Suffolk and in 1659 became a commissioner for the militia. In April 1660, he was elected Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh in the Convention Parliament. He also became lieutenant colonel of the Suffolk Militia in April 1660. He was knighted on 9 June 1660 for his services to the Restoration. In July 1660 he became commissioner for oyer and terminer for Middlesex, and in August 1660 became commissioner for assessment for Suffolk.[1]

Brooke was re-elected MP for Aldeburgh in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament where he was very active. In 1661 he became commissioner for assessment for Aldeburgh and in 1662 became a JP for Essex and one of the Six Clerks in Chancery. He became commissioner for assessment for Essex in 1663. In 1667, he was appointed chairman of the inquiry into the failures of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, and presented four reports. Samuel Pepys wrote of him extensively in his diary considering him too young for the chair, "and yet he seems to speak very well".[1]

Family and legacy

Brooke married on 26 April 1659 Ann Margarett Mildmay,[2] daughter of Sir Henry Mildmay of Wanstead, who was Master of the Jewel Office from 1620 to 1649.[3]

By his will, written in 1660, Robert left Cockfield Hall and the manors of Yoxford, Cockfield and Marinels to his mother Elizabeth and her heirs absolutely. By his codicil of 1667 his manor, messuage, park and rectory advowson of Wansted were left to his cousin german John Brooke (of Ipswich). His executors were Dame Margaret Hungerford, Dame Elizabeth Brooke (his mother), Anne Margarett Blois (his wife) and William Blois, Esq. (his brother), and he entailed his unbequeathed real estate through William's sons Robert, John and Charles in turn.[4] Anne Margarett however died on 7 January 1666, leaving him a daughter.

Brooke went to France in 1669 and was drowned while bathing in the River Rhône at Avignon in June.[1] Following the death of William Blois in 1676,[5] his son Charles swore to administer his uncle Robert's will,[6] and in 1683 had control of his father's estate, Dame Elizabeth Brooke dying in that year. He was created Baronet Blois in 1686. Therefore when his aunt Mary Brooke died in 1693 it was as Sir Charles Blois, 1st Baronet that he, and subsequently his heirs, became masters of Cockfield Hall at Yoxford. His estate at Wanstead was sold later to Sir Josiah Child, 1st Baronet.[1]

References

1. M.W. Helms/Paula Watson, 'Brooke, Robert (c.1637-69), of Cockfield Hall, Yoxford, Suff. and Wanstead House, Essex', in B.D. Henning (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690 (from Boydell and Brewer 1983), History of Parliament Online.
2. She is repeatedly named using both Christian names in Robert's will written in 1660, see Will of Sir Robert Brooke, Kt., of Yoxford (P.C.C. 1670, Coke quire).
3. J.T. Peacey, 'Mildmay, Henry', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (OUP, 2004).
4. Will of Robert Brooke (PCC 1670).
5. Will and Sentence of Sir William Blois of City of London (both P.C.C. 1676, Bence quire).
6. Will of Robert Brooke (PCC 1670).